Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex, Archaeological site in Tatarstan, Russia.
The Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex is an expansive site with medieval structures and fortifications spreading across several square kilometers along the Volga River. Excavations have revealed remains of dwellings, religious buildings, and administrative structures that show how this earlier city was organized in space.
The settlement was the capital of Volga Bulgaria from the 7th to 13th centuries and grew into a major trading hub between Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In the 13th century an invasion led to the city's decline, and the site was eventually abandoned.
The remains display a blend of Islamic and local building traditions visible in the walls and structures that still stand. Visitors can see today how different peoples met at this location and shaped each other's ways of building.
The site offers guided tours with explanations in several languages plus a museum with finds and information about medieval activities. It helps to wear comfortable shoes and allow plenty of time, since the excavations spread across a large area.
Excavations have uncovered over 5000 medieval coins from different regions, showing how far the trade routes of that time extended. These coins came from trading partners that reached from Scandinavia to the Near East.
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